The old sailor's face was drained of all color, twisted in pure terror as he stared across the storm-torn sea.
Anyone who made their living in the Mediterranean knew the terrifying reputation of the Jiehai Grand Duke Serpent. It frequently ambushed ships traveling between Africa and the Aegean Sea, causing several catastrophic tragedies—none of which left a single survivor.
No one needed to explain. The moment Lu Jun heard the creature's name, he instantly understood.
He remembered that the Jiehai Grand Duke Serpent belonged to the Serpent–Scorpion Clan, a Monarch-class demon monster directly under the command of the second daughter of the Medusa Queen—Euryale—and that it lived year-round in the Mediterranean.
In the original timeline, two or three years later, when Mo Fan traveled to Egypt and contracted Apas, Euryale personally sent this serpent to execute them. Even Mo Fan, who had fully mastered the High-tier level, had been forced into a desperate retreat.
At this point, one had to mention the demonic disaster brewing across Africa—where seven colossal overlords were entrenched, each one an existence above the Monarch level.
The undisputed head of the African Seven Giants was, of course, the Sahara Emperor, one of the Three Great Roof-Emperors. Beneath him ranked the Pharaoh of the Egyptian Undead Empire—Khufu, the Serpent–Scorpion Empire's Queen Medusa, and so on.
Khufu and the Medusa were sworn allies, echoing each other across the continent.
Unfortunately, the Medusa Serpent Mother had originally been the earliest human awakened in Curse and Psychic Magic, later transformed into what she was now. In recent years she had grown increasingly aged, clearly with little time left.
She had three daughters beneath her:
The eldest—Scorpion Empress Cessna,
The second—Harpy-Serpent Euryale,
The youngest—Apas.
Each was a Monarch-level great demon, all coveting the supreme throne of their race.
Apas, being the weakest, fled into human society to eke out a living, only to run into Mo Fan. Empowered by the spiritual strength of the Nine Netherworld Queen, he forcibly contracted her.
And what followed was the predictable cliché—Apas being hunted down by her two elder sisters.
"Looks like my timing isn't very good. Europe and Africa are heading toward the same chaos as before."
Lu Jun frowned slightly. Europe's Titans were entering their active period, Khufu was awakening in Africa, the Serpent–Scorpion Empire was stirring, and the worst future threat of all loomed—seventy years from now, the Sahara Empire's expansion.
However, thinking in reverse, he felt this might actually be an opportunity. Whether it was Khufu or the Medusa herself, he had every intention of getting involved.
The former was Lu Jun's direct path-adversary. Devouring Khufu's ancient royal armor would instantly elevate him to a Master-Emperor level, on par with Athena's divine soul.
Not to mention Khufu's countless undead. Reaping them would provide oceans of soul essence. Venturing deep into the pyramids to seize cursed treasures could grant materials for Star Ocean Magic Tools—perfect gifts for his sister.
As for the Medusa—she herself was the earliest of the ancient Curse-Psychic mages, mastering what was said to be the strongest curse magic in the world: Medusa's Gaze.
Lu Jun was a Curse-Psychic mage as well. With the Medusa nearing death, studying her corpse might allow him to grasp enlightenment, swiftly cultivating a transcendent ability—one of the world's highest and most terrifying curses.
Yes, transcendent abilities were the dividing line between ordinary Super-tier and top-grade Super-tier. And even among transcendent abilities, some were unimaginably powerful depending on their forbidden nature and unimaginable effects.
Lu Jun let these thoughts circle through his mind once, but did not dwell any further. He was still some distance from confronting Emperor-level beings. That would come later.
For now, his eyes settled on the struggling shadow in the storm—the Jiehai Grand Duke Serpent, thrashing violently in the dark waters, about to break free. Excitement flickered in his gaze.
His dual elements had both broken into the Super-tier. His Spiritual Heaven Realm was complete. His hands were itching to test just how far his strength had reached—and an Monarch had delivered itself to his doorstep.
Boom—!
The black serpent shattered the suppression of the North Sea Domain, raising its massive body into the sky like a towering lighthouse piercing the downpour. Next to a Monarch, even the Commander-level cruise ship was insignificant.
Its cold, furious eyes locked onto Lu Jun. It had dominated the Mediterranean for many years. Hunters had tried to slay it before—none had succeeded.
The next second, the colossal serpent manipulated a terrifying torrent of water. The sea roared, and suddenly the waters in front of the ship collapsed downward, forming a vast, sunken divide. Should the ship sail forward even a step, it would plunge into the abyss—shattering the vessel and killing everyone aboard.
Panic erupted among the passengers.
At that moment, Lu Jun finally moved. His eyes shone with interwoven black and crimson light. From his brow emerged the faint radiance of a soul-shadow—a three-inch-tall miniature figure, crystalline and brilliant. His boundless spiritual force surged outward, ripping into the sky and twisting the air within a hundred meters.
High-tier Magic — Blood Abyss: Nether Ghost Execution!
Buzzing rumbled through the air! On both sides of the ship, enormous black whirlpools tore open the sea, forming gaping gateways to the underworld. Frigid winds howled as eerie black-red hellfire spread across the waters. It felt as though the ship were sailing through an ocean of infernal flames, cold, sinister aura seeping into every corner.
Although Lu Jun had not yet mastered the Super-tier Curse Magic, under the enhancement of his Super-tier control and the Spiritual Heaven Realm, his spell had already transformed. Guided by his will, its scale grew even more vast and majestic.
Roar—roar—roar!
From within the twin vortices, two colossal, ferocious spirits crawled forth. Their towering, pitch-black bodies rose dozens of meters high—Black and White Impermanence, the Yin-Yang Twin Fiends.
The aura they radiated had reached the advanced Commander level, nearly approaching Monarch level.
The instant the two ghost fiends emerged, they lunged toward the distant Jiehai Grand Duke Serpent.
One wielded a Wind Scythe, ruthlessly hooking onto the thousand-meter serpent's seven-inch vital point, carving open a deep, dark fissure from which blood surged. The other swung a Kun Earth War Club, smashing down heavily on the serpent's skull—the petrifying force freezing its movements.
Boom!
The Jiehai Serpent shrieked in agony, its massive body twisting violently. Its tail lifted and slammed down, raising stacked, towering waves that churned the sea into chaos.
Descending Light!
Heavenly Flame Funeral!
Jun Yaojin and Lu Mei attacked in unison—two High-tier, third-level destructive spells streaking toward the serpent.
First, a scorching white pillar of light pierced down from the heavens, crashing into the serpent's body. The powerful Light-element damage merely charred its thick, iron-hard scales. The wound was shallow.
Next came the rolling golden heavenly flames, drowning half the serpent's gigantic form. The terrifying heat evaporated vast swaths of seawater, leaving large patches of reddened, melted scales—far more effective than the first spell.
Yet their combined damage remained limited. Without spellcraft, heavenly seeds, or Super-tier magic, their power was naturally insufficient.
Lu Jun's body radiated intersecting constellations of pitch-black waves. He stomped fiercely on the sea beneath the ship, causing surging black jade water pillars to rise skyward one after another, forming a towering aquatic palace that enveloped the entire cruise ship.
The moment the serpent's water-control power touched the perimeter of this black-water palace, it was immediately subdued and suppressed by the North Sea Domain.
Now, the black serpent was tightly restrained by the two ghost fiends, and its strongest ability—the water-controlling force—was being stolen and crushed by the North Sea Domain. For the moment, it was trapped, unable to advance or retreat.
Seeing this, Lu Jun's heart surged with joy. The comprehensive enhancement brought by the Spiritual Heaven Realm was indeed extraordinary.
Just a few months ago in Egypt, when he killed the Monarch Dark Sword Master, he had needed the empowered state of the Blood Abyss Curse and even then required Jun Yaojin's blessing to assist him.
Now, with only his standard magic, Lu Jun could fight the Jiehai Grand Duke Serpent to a standstill.
On the raging ocean, stormwinds clashed, giant serpent and ghost fiends battled, energies exploded wildly. It was like witnessing the savage clashes of ancient primordial monsters—the sight alone left the heart trembling.
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
Fairy Tail{30 Chapters}
Patreon. Com/ALLISWELL123